Protective garment having outer shell, intermediate and inner liners, and liner-indicating means

Abstract

In a protective garment comprising an outer shell, an intermediate liner, and an inner liner, a visual indication whether each liner is being worn, is provided to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, via a tab extending from such liner and being manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from such liner can be detachably attached to another part of the protective garment. In its indicating position, the tab extending from the intermediate liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell. In its indicating position, the tab extending from the inner liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell, in one contemplated embodiment, or to the tab extending from the intermediate liner, in an alternative embodiment.

1. A protective garment comprising an outer shell, an intermediate liner wearable within the outer shell, and an inner liner wearable within the intermediate liner, and further comprising means for indicating visually to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, whether the intermediate liner is being worn and whether the inner liner is being worn;
 wherein the indicating means comprises a tab extending from the intermediate liner and being visible to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, if the intermediate liner is being worn, and wherein the indicating means comprises a tab extending from the inner liner and being visible to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, if the inner liner is being worn; and 
 wherein the tab extending from the intermediate liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from the intermediate liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell and in which the tab extending from the intermediate liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that the intermediate liner is being worn and wherein the tab extending from the inner liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from the inner liner can be detachably attached to the tab extending from the intermediate liner and in which the tab extending from the inner liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that the inner liner is being worn. 
 
   
   
     2. A protective garment comprising an outer shell, an intermediate liner wearable within the outer shell, and an inner liner wearable within the intermediate liner, and further comprising means for indicating visually to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, whether the intermediate liner is being worn and whether the inner liner is being worn; and
 wherein the tab extending from the intermediate liner, when manipulated to the indicating position, displays an indicium or indicia that the protective garment conforms to at least one standard for protective garments and wherein the tab extending from the inner liner, when manipulated to the indicating position, displays an indicium or indicia that the protective garment conforms to at least one for protective garments, the indicated standards being different standards. 
 
   
   
     3. The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein the indicating means comprises a tab extending from the intermediate liner and being visible to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, if the intermediate liner is being worn, and wherein the indicating means comprises a tab extending from the inner liner and being visible to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, if the inner liner is being worn. 
   
   
     4. The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the tab extending from each liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from said liner can be detachably attached to another part of the protective garment and in which the tab extending from said liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that said liner is being worn. 
   
   
     5. The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the tab extending from each liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from said liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell and in which the tab extending from said liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that said liner is being worn. 
   
   
     6. The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the tab extending from the intermediate liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from the intermediate liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell and in which the tab extending from the intermediate liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that the intermediate liner is being worn, wherein the tab extending from the inner liner is manipulatable to an indicating position, in which the tab extending from the inner liner can be detachably attached to the outer shell and in which the tab extending from the inner liner indicates to a person observing the outer shell, while the protective garment is being worn, that the inner liner is being worn, and wherein the tabs are spaced from each other when and where so attached to the outer shell. 
   
   
     7. The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the protective garment further comprises means for enabling the tab extending from the intermediate liner to be detachably attached to the outer shell and means for enabling the tab extending from the inner liner to be detachably attached to the tab extending from the intermediate liner, so as to be indirectly attachable to the outer shell, but not enabling the tab extending from the inner liner to be directly attachable to the outer shell. 
   
   
     8. The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein the tab extending from the inner liner, when manipulated to the indicating position, masks at least part of another indicium displayed by the protective garment. 
   
   
     9. The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein the outer shell displays an indicium that the protective garment conforms to at least one standard for protective garments. 
   
   
     10. The protective garment of  claim 9 , wherein the tab extending from the each liner, when manipulated to the indicating position, masks at least part of another indicium displayed by the protective garment.